Feng Shui can be called The Chinese Art of Placement*Buddhas, Quan Yins, Kwan Yins, Jade, Chinese Zodiac Animals, Chrysanthemum Stones, Rare and beautiful Feng Shui*Quartz! The finest balancing/healing crystal available today!. High quality priced right! Back to Freespirit Emporium Home Back to Freespirit Rocks Home Feng Shui Feng Shui has existed for more than 4,000 years. Can such an ancient philosophy still be relevant today? The answer is yes, because the Ancient Chinese who first developed it recognized that the universe is in a constant state of change and so Feng Shui would have to evolve to keep pace with it. The Feng Shui Directory by Jane Butler-Biggs Throughout civilization, humankind has recognized the power and beauty of nature and the universe. All over the world, cultures have believed that spirits dwelled around them in nature, the weather, the flora and fauna-things they could not explain, but intuitively sensed possessed something different and special.

Even primitive peoples acknowledged and identified certain places in their surroundings that they recognized as being unique to their senses: a rock, grove, tree, mountain, river, cave, or other natural places that they regarded to be sacred and holy. To the ancient Chinese, that feeling was captured in the philosophy of feng shui, literally, "wind-water." Believing that their departed ancestors were forever connected in spirit with them, families sought to honor them by selecting their optimum final resting places. Male children were desired not only to carry on the family name, but because only they were permitted to clean the graves of departed family members. Even today, many Chinese still associate the practice of feng shui with death and dying. This Chinese environmental art of placement is one of the five components of a person's destiny. First is fate, determined by heaven and over which you have no control or say. It is that which dictates who, when, how, why, and what you are at the moment of your birth. Luck follows after you are born, in the form of pure luck, man-made luck, and heaven luck. Thirdly, is feng shui, or earth luck.

Fourth are charity and philanthropy and finally, education, experience, and self development. The three major concepts of feng shui are the flow of energy, the balance of yin and yang, and the interaction of the five elements. Feng Shui - Do's and Taboos by Angi Ma Wong ~~~ Shipping costs are calculated by weight. We ship USPS Priority mail or UPS on heavy pieces unless you notify us. Your item will be lovingly and carefully packaged and we can enclose a gift card for you if you wish. We have 100% customer satisfaction at Freespirit Emporium. Expect nothing less from Freespirit Rocks! Accessories Decorating with Feng Shui by Nancy Uon for viewzone Ask yourself... Is there a favorite room or spot in your home to which everyone seems to gravitate? What about an area that looked promising when you took the space, but turned out to be unused or uncomfortable to be in? Also... Is your business prospering, or is money going out, not coming in? These situations, which I encounter frequently on initial visits with clients, can be solved using the art and science of ancient Chinese Feng shui principles (pronounced fung shway).

We often hear the saying, "as goes our environment, so we go." Feng shui teaches us how to create harmony and balance around us. By taking a hard look around and opening up our environment to healthy energy (Chi), we can make changes in our work and living space that will create corresponding changes in our life. Feng shui, which translates to "the wind and the water," is the Chinese art of correct placement. Practitioners believe that by arranging our furnishings and decor in a way that aligns with nature, we draw harmony and good health into our lives. According to this ancient philosophy, the placement of everything from the front door to the toilet plays in our overall well being. The Chinese actually employ a Feng shui master before building or buying a home. Most Feng shui experts stress the use of aesthetics and common sense in achieving the desired results and many new home builders seem to be incorporating elements of feng shui into their communities . There are many stories that can be told about putting Feng Shui to use, but the following is a favorite since it created a favorable change in my own life.

[CLICK] by Marcela De Vivo Regardless of who you are or how old, everyone can appreciate the benefits of a beautiful, comfortable living environment; however, following the principles of Feng Shui go way beyond providing for a home or office's material comfort; it also affects your physical and mental health, your worldly success and even your relationships. Despite the many misconceptions and contradictory advice you may have heard about this particular method, it is important that you have an open mind and use methods that are most comfortable for your particular situation. Feng Shui, on the surface, is the interaction between an individual and his/her environment, and it is often referred to as the art of placement. Depending on how you place your furniture and represent the five elements (water, fire, earth, metal and wood), Feng Shui has a way of bringing harmony, balance and comfort into your living space, not to mention aesthetically appealing as well. The color green, for example, is excellent for improving health and balancing family. Incorporating blues into your Feng Shui design supports the energy of your career growth, and white will bring supportive energy for all of your creative pursuits.

To learn more about how to incorporate Feng Shui into your own home or office, take a look at this helpful infographic , provided by Soothing Walls . It is a basic guide that you can follow so you can better understand the principles of this ancient art and reap its many benefits. My restless bedroom Several years ago, I purchased an in-town condominium. I was immediately taken with the master bedroom suite, which had beautiful mahogany book shelves built around the closet door on an end wall. I also loved the owner's choice of Hunter Green on the opposite wall, and purchased the gold-faced, deep paisley window blinds which had been custom made for the oversized window. This, I thought, will be the perfect haven for sleeping, working and reading; a comfortable space to which I can retreat. In order to get a restful sleep and keep unwelcomed forces from entering the room while you sleep, place your bed where you can see the entrance. After living in the space for several months, I found myself uncomfortable in the room. The cozy retreat I had envisioned had actually become a cold, unwelcoming space. I began migrating to the guest room on several nights to work and sleep.

I never felt rested in the morning, and I started to develop a negative feeling about my home. A few weeks later, after learning about the ancient Chinese philosophy of Feng shui, I was able to understand why the room didn't work, and why it was affecting my life. The ideal placement is within sight of the door but off to one side for maximum protection. The bookcases and placement of the heating elements had eliminated the best areas for the location of the bed, forcing it to be positioned immediately to the right of the door. The problem could have been solved simply by hanging a mirror on the wall opposite the bed to reflect engery and provide a view of the entry. However, a few days work with a carpenter and electrician allowed proper placement of the bed (in a position with a clear view of the door) [above]. The Hunter Green, too dark for a sleeping area, was changed to a much warmer shade of persimmon, a color of luck. After making the necessary changes in color and furniture placement, I began sleeping soundly, started feeling happy and comfortable at home, and experienced an increase in business. Need to make some changes to your home? Start with color...

Do you need an expert to begin putting these principles to work for you? Not really. With a positive attitude, you can get a good start by using some of the following tips. All of us respond to colors subjectively, yet the use of some colors seem to work with more success than others. As an example, the Chinese believe that red brings luck, probably the reason that Chinese brides wear scarlett. They paint their front doors red as an invitation to happiness. Pinks, plums and purples would have the same effect. Green is considered to be a color of freshness, growth and peace, which makes it ideal for a bedroom. Dark greens, and other dark colors, are considered too heavy for indoor use. (Thus, the dark green wall of my bedroom made it a very bad choice, particularly off-balance against the stark white of the remaining walls.) Light blues work well, but dark blue shades are thought to make one too introspective. Yellow, the color of the sun signifies longevity. White is a symbol of death for the Chinese. Overuse of white can cause what is referred to as a "white occurence," delivering too much cold energy.

It is important to add pots of colorful flowers and other touches of color to offset this effect. Room settings Our homes and offices, in line with Feng shui philosophy, can be thought of as a metaphor for or lives. A cluttered house is a cluttered mind. Get rid of the old and make room for the new! Therefore, according the Feng shui, the perfect entry is one that is clear of clutter and obstruction. Trim back all hedges and make sure that the path to your door is clear, open and well defined. Kitchen The stove is a central focus in a Chinese kitchen. If your back is to the door when you are cooking, place a mirror behind the stove to give you a view of who is entering the kitchen. The chef's energy is imparted into the food, so for this reason, pay special attention to your mood when you cook. Rotate your use of burners for prosperity. Bedroom Bedrooms are sanctuaries for privacy, peace, protection and intimacy. Placing objects in pairs in this room is thought to increase marital harmony and balance (candlesticks, vases, etc.). Be sure to place the bed in the position that has the most commanding view of the doorway (the mouth of Chi).

We are in a vulnerable state while sleeping and it is important that this area affords our being safety and support. Office Your work environment should be treated the same as your home. Is your back to the door? If so, reposition your work area to face the door. Clear your environment of clutter to make room for new business. Your work environment should be treated the same as your home. Is your back to the door? If so, reposition your work area to face the door. Clear your environment of clutter to make room for new business." A client, who worked as a travel agent, came to me for help with her office. She had rented a beautiful, one-room space. The entrance wall had a long, narrow window at each side of the door. The opposite wall held glass patio doors leading to a large stone balcony with a spectacular city view. She had chosen to leave the window clear and had placed her desk to left of the patio door, so that she could enjoy the view while working. She arranged a sitting area off center right to the door. Since moving into her office she felt her business had dropped off. People checked prices and arrangements with her, but then, for some reason, booked with an agent across town.

Upon entering her office, a few problems were clearly visible. Her back exit was visible from the front entrance, allowing money and energy to flow straight through her office. She had also placed herself with her back to the entry. The solution was simple. We set a trifold screen, with a wide center panel in the center of the large room and covered it with a red print. We placed her desk in front of the screen, facing the entry so that she could greet her clients. The opposite space created by the screen provided a sitting area where clients could browse material and enjoy the beautiful view. We placed a large mirror in the corner to the right of the door so she could continue to enjoy the beautiful view. Not only did she experience a large increase in business, but also found that she accomplished a lot more with her desk in this position. Start putting a few of these simple practices into effect in your own home and work environment. You'll find, as others have, that whether you believe wholeheartedly or not, these simple treatments of space and energy can make a difference in your life and work. More? Go to part 2... This is a three part article on Feng Shui.

Nancy Uon is an interior designer, specializing in corporate settings in New York. She recently relocated to Litchfield County in Connecticut. The Chinese Art of Placement, a CurtainUp review The Chinese Art of Placement It's a funny thing being normal. ---Sparky T. Scott Cunningham (Photo: Chuck Cors) Theater, at its most essential, is storytelling. And, as we've come to discover, stories are not particularly reliable as sources of accurate information. But as any good therapist will tell you, if you let someone talk long enough, you'll learn enough to separate the reality from the invention. So it is with Sparky Litman(T. Scott Cunningham), the curious character to whom Stanley Rutherford introduces us in The Chinese Art of Placement. The title refers, of course, to Feng Shui, and as we meet Sparky he is deep in the practice: fretting over where to place the red kitchen chair that seems to be his principal piece of furniture. We might think he's obsessed with the practice (and he is). What we soon learn is that it is merely part of a remarkable transformation in Sparky's life, from oddball outcast poet and erstwhile spy, to normality. Or so he would like to think.

What we learn slightly later is also interesting: that this process is of very recent vintage, having commenced within the last twenty-four hours. At the center of the transformation is a kick-off party, for which Stanley is busy on the phone constructing a guest list. Not surprisingly, it's a hard sell. Along the way, he places a call to his idol, Tina Turner, and though he gets short shrift from her "people," subsequent invitees are informed she'll be performing. Should we believe Sparky's fantastic (if a bit elongated) tale about his unwitting effort as a spy on the Trans-Siberian railroad? Or that he has a family (and neighborhood) mausoleum in his basement? I doubt it, but if we read between the lines, we'll find out enough about Sparky to describe Chinese Art as a trenchant character portrait. And that's without mentioning his compulsive relationship with the parade of ants that regularly march across his floorboards. (Or do they?) Mr. Rutherford has written cleverly and energetically here, and Jessica Bauman has staged his work quite well. Around minute sixty, we begin to tire, but we stay with Sparky. Much of the credit for this goes to Mr.

Cunningham, who manages to overcome his Sparky's credibility issues to make the character exceptionally believable. He is at once endearing and pathetic, a good-hearted nutate, self-aware and yet quite delusional. The actor is indeed the star attraction. The Chinese Art of Placement by Stanley Rutherford Feng Shui: The Chinese Art of Placement, AIA Houston Events Calendar Join the MFAH for a program exploring Feng Shui: The Chinese Art of Placement. This program was designed to explore the basic propronents of feng shui in relation to two contemporary work of art - Cai Guo-Qiang's gunpowder mural, Odyssey, and Song Dong and Yin Xiuzhen's 25 feet long Chopsticks - installed in conversation in the Arts of China Galley. Following the converstaion in the gallery, Mast Yanyi, author and Feng Shui expert, will give a presentation regarding the foundation of the ancient practice. About the Presenter Master Yanyi is an author and feng shui consultant. A descendant of Chinese scholars, she has been a college professor of ancient Chinese language and philosophies in Taiwon, and she consults on residential and commercial properties worldwide.

For more information, please visit the MFAH website here. This event is free! Drop in to participate. Space is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Untitled Document Coins in Feng Shui Mary Constantine, Efren Manjarrez, Ashley Biggins, Heidi Lundblad The Chinese art of feng shui is said to bring harmony and serenity to all those that possess it. According to Master Lam Kam Chuen, author of “Feng Shui Handbook: How to create living and working environment,” feng shui is “The Chinese art of arranging ones life in accordance with the forces of the universe.” Dating back almost over 7000 years, and probably even further, this ancient tradition is commonly known across the globe. Although only practiced in few cultures feng shui is something everyone can participate in. Feng shui literally translates to wind and water. It is composed of the recognizable symbol yin and yang, fundamental forces such as the five energies, and is based much on ones chi. The yin and yang are used to balance out ones life. The yin, which represents the dark, earth, soft, cold, mother, etc.

and the yang which stands for the light, sky, motion, hot, and father. The yin and yang accomplish changes in the universe through the five material agents, or wu hsing. The five agents are composed of the movements of the stars, the workings of the body, the nature of foods, the qualities of music, the ethical qualities of humans, the progress of time, the operations of government, and even the nature of historical change. The yin and yang represent all the opposite principles one finds in the universe. There are five energies found in feng shui, each traveling in a different direction. First there is fire, which shoots upward. Second is wood, whose energy expands in all directions. Third is water, whose energy descends, fourth is metal, which are the densest and the movement of energy flows upward. Finally earth, whose energy travels horizontally. Each energy helps to create the perfect feng shui. In order to achieve perfect placement an instrument called the bagua must come into play. According to R.D.

Chin author of “Feng Shui Revealed,” the bagua is a “tool used to analyze and evaluate a room, house or tract of land.” It is used in feng shui to find out which part of your home or office correlates with a particular situation in your life. Once you understand how to use this "map of feng shui," you will be able to quickly evaluate and adjust your environment to maximize greater health and productivity while improving your quality of life. The Uses and types of Coins in Feng Shui Feng Shui coins are used in general for attracting wealth and prosperity depending on which school of feng shui you follow. Coins are generally arranged in sets of three, tied together with a red ribbon, symbolizing the unity of man, earth, and heaven called the Tien-di-Ren. The coin itself has a square in the middle and 4 different Chinese symbols around it. The square represents the energy of the earth while the roundness of the coin represents the energy of heaven. When the ribbon is tied in different manners it can represent different types of luck and can interpret the incoming Chi in different ways.

These coins were originally used in the T’ai Kung in the 11 century as a form of currency but then evolved over the years as a form of luck and wealth. In feng shui there are practices of separating out the different sectors in your life. For the most part these coins are considered to be powerful symbols of wealth and prosperity, but they can be used to fight off negative energy, which introduces diseases, physical harm and bad luck. Some practitioners of feng shui hang them from their front door in certain positions to block the negative chi from entering their household and affecting their lives. Coins can be hung around places of business, like near a cash register, or around bank tellers to help in creating wealth for the people around or near them. Different types of coins represent different types of luck and prosperity in peoples lives. In feng shui there hundreds of types of coins both new and old that can represent a variety themes, such as the prosperity, luck and abundance coins. These give you exactly what they say they do and help you to preserve your existing wealth as well.

On one side are the four characters "Bao Chuen Yong Fu," meaning "Forever Prosperous." On the other side are the eight characters "Fu Zhai Yien Chien, Re Re Sheng Chai," meaning "Good Fortune Ahead, Wealth Multiplies Daily.” There are coins that provide powerful protection as amulets, apart from bringing good fortune. They combine two potent symbols of protection: eight trigrams of the Pa Kua and twelve animal signs that represent the earthly branches. These coins are used to keep family (especially children) safe from evil influences outside the home, and are attached to the doorknob on the inside of the house or room. To make sure these coins are used correctly, the coins with the eight trigrams are flat against the door while the side with the twelve animal signs faces the inside of the house. There are coins from the Ching dynasty that create a great flow of positive energy. During Chien-Lung's illustrious 60-year-long reign, China was at its richest and international trades were most prosperous. The country was at peace and the wealth of the nation was phenomenal.

This is represented by one side of the coin with the characters "Tien Xia Tai Ping," meaning "Peace on Earth." They are hung at work to ensure the solid financial luck and support of Emperor Chien Lung for business and are displayed above the front door to attract wealth luck and good fortune into people’s homes. There are also six gold coins that represent the prosperous reign of the first six powerful Chinese emperors of the Ching Dynasty: Shun-Chi, Kang-Hsi, Yung-Cheng, Chien-Lung, Chia Ching, Tao-Kwong. Secured with the mystic knot, they represent endless wealth and luck. Six is also the number, which represents the trigram Chien, which brings luck from heaven to empower you. Arrangement of these coins and the ribbons provide specified protection against negative Chi. If the coins are formed into a knife then it is used to have luck in business and protect against the backstabbing involved in business deals. If they’re formed as a type of amulet it can provide protection against medical ailments. Although most of these coins have different styles and icons on them they fall into the convention of being used as good luck charms.

They increase your power to gain wealth and are almost a decoration for Feng Shui. Since Feng Shui requires a great deal of thought into placement of things like furniture and plants, these coins provide an excellent way to fine tune the details in businesses and homes. In recent years there has been an increase of the different types of coins and the other products such as the money frog and money tree and has created a swelling market for them. These coins that were once used as currency, they are now valued for much more than what they were first used as. Significance of the color red and the square shape of the coin’s center The Chinese believe that everything under the sky can be classified under the “five elements.” These are gold, wood, water, fire, and earth. Similar to the theory of yin and yang, balancing the five elements is central to feng shui practitioners. The color red has been synonymous with the Chinese culture for centuries it is viewed as bright and lucky, also associated with a drive to be wealthy and prosperous and the fire element. Because it denotes good fortune, at the Chinese new year, children are given little red packets or envelopes filled with money to wish them good luck for the coming year.

The color red has also been associated with warding off evil spirits and bringing happiness and prosperity. Generally, the Chinese people value success as an important aspect of their lives and because of this, coin objects are valued in their society. According to feng shui practices, when three coins are tied together with red ribbon or thread, it is symbolic of a boundless source of income. Local Applications of Coins in Feng Shui A trip to Little Saigon in Westminster was helpful in seeing whether or not one could easily purchase coins for use in feng shui and if so what kind of information about them those selling them would provide. This area in southern California called Little Saigon borders closely with Little Seoul and is filled with businesses and commerce run mainly by and for Vietnamese and Korean people, and items from Asia not found in any other local store can be found here. Many shops in the area had items with coins and often tied with red string, and the shop keepers all identified them with good luck and prosperity. One shop keeper was particularly detailed about the coins themselves and how they were Chinese in origin but were recognized as lucky by most Vietnamese as well.

He said that the coins ranged across several centuries, they were round with a square hole stamped out of the middle, and it was the character written on the coin that gave it its good fortune. According to the shop keeper the characters on the coins ensured that if you use this money it will return to you and money will stay with you for as long as you keep these coins. The coins he was selling were replicas; not made of metal but instead some form of bendable colored plastic, but he was insistent that it was the token value of the coin and the characters on it that brought money to those who had them. Admittedly, the coins themselves could not buy anything for sale today and when asked if the shop keeper would except the lucky Chinese coins in exchange for goods in his store he said that he would not. Another shop keeper identified an item he was selling as a feng shui piece for your house. The item was a ball of coins wrapped together with wire and adorned with red strings. The coins were much the same as the ones from the previous shop but they were larger and made of metal.

When asked what the item was for he replied that it was good luck feng shui to hang in your house and that the coins would bring money and prosperity to the household. He also said that red was the strongest and most prosperous color and that when you brought the coins home, money would follow you. The idea of bringing money to your household through feng shui was supported by another woman who told of how she placed coins on her door knob. This woman had much the same to say about the good fortune of Chinese coins, but she practiced the feng shui by tying them around her door knobs at home. She said that doorways are very significant in feng shui because they are the portals that everyone and everything must pass through to enter your home. With coins on her door knobs she entered and exited her home with good fortune and it was assured that money would come to her home. All the shop keepers who provided information about these items were Vietnamese, and yet the coins they were selling were Chinese. Their personal authority on the good fortune of these coins came at least second hand to them through tradition and oral history, but not of national experience or related understanding of Chinese culture.

Also, the woman who places coins on her door to bring money to her house is of Honduran decent and knows even less of Asian history or culture. However, she had vested a sort of power and influence in these coins specifically because of their Chinese origin and the reputation of Asian culture that she held in her mind. Feng shui itself is accepted as a commodity by many Westerners simply because of the mystic spiritual authority we place in anything that comes from an Asian culture, a good deal in part because of the mystery that first surrounded this region of “The Orient” in our westernized Eurocentric history. When considering the breakdown of feng shui into elements such as yin and yang or wood and metal it is not so easy to integrate cash into the mix. Coins are metal, but for the most part it is paper bills, plastic cards and numbers on a computer screen that represent our wealth in these times. There is a noticeable difference between the feng shui that was encountered as a commodity in the Asian Garden Mall and that which was found in research.

It is worth noting that the feng shui found in application here was its own brand of the practice, bringing fortune to shop keepers and peace of mind to house wives who might know nothing of “wind and water”. Feng Shui Your Bedroom | Bedrooms & Bedroom Decorating Ideas | HGTV Bedrooms Feng Shui Your Bedroom Can't sleep through the night? Try these feng shui principles in your bedroom to promote better rest, relaxation and relationships. By: Leah Hennen Photo By: EWM Realty, a member of Luxury Portfolio International Photo By: Robert Peterson, Rustic White Photography Photo By: Eric Perry © 2013, Scripps Networks, LLC. All Rights Reserved What Is Feng Shui? Is your bedroom a peaceful haven you retreat to for rest and romance, and emerge from feeling refreshed and renewed? If not, a little feng shui may be just the thing your room needs. Feng shui — which literally translates to "wind and water" — is the ancient Chinese art of placement. The goal is to enhance the flow of chi (life force or spiritual energy), and to create harmonious environments that support health, beckon wealth and invite happiness.

In the bedroom, "Feng shui helps you arrange the space to support your best rest and connection with your partner and with yourself," says Los Angeles feng shui consultant Jayme Barrett, author of "Feng Shui Your Life." Follow these simple feng shui strategies that will turn your chaotic, uninspiring bedroom into the serene and sensual sanctuary of your dreams. From: Braun + Adams Use Welcoming, Calming Colors Its cultural and spiritual symbolism aside, "There's no doubt that color impacts our psychology and our physiology," says David Daniel Kennedy, a feng shui teacher and consultant in Berkeley, Calif., and author of "Feng Shui for Dummies." Feng shui practitioners recommend warm, rich earth and skin tones such as terra cotta, copper, coral, cream, peach, tan and cocoa for creating a cozy, welcoming atmosphere in the bedroom. Soft natural colors like light blues, greens and lavenders lend the bedroom a quiet, tranquil vibe and invite healing energy. Bright reds and oranges are typically associated with yang — the masculine half of the yin and yang energy equation — and are too stimulating.

That said, "Pink and red are the colors of romance, and using them in the bedroom can increase the romance in our relationships," David explains. Just limit these passionate hues to accents around the room — in the form of sheets, pillows, throws and other linens. If pink and red aren't your thing, try variations such as burgundy, pomegranate, eggplant and magenta. Position Your Bed With Care In feng shui, the "commanding position" for the bed is as far away from the bedroom door as possible, but in a spot which still allows you to keep an eye on the room's entrance. "This gives you a sense of safety and protection while you rest," says Jayme. The corner of the room diagonally opposite the door is usually best, since it distances you from the door while keeping the bed out of direct alignment with the room's opening, which is conducive to sleep, relaxation and healthy chi. From: Genevieve Gorder Choose a Wood Headboard Headboards, especially solid ones made from wood, are considered good feng shui because they provide additional strength and support behind your head. Footboards, on the other hand, are seen as blocking forward progress in life.

The Exception to the "No Footboard" Rule Make sure your feet don't point out the door while in bed. In traditional Chinese culture, this is called the "Death Position" because the deceased are carried out feet first. Practitioners believe sleeping this way can drain your life force. If you can't avoid it, use a footboard or a substantial trunk or other piece of furniture at the foot of your bed to act as a buffer (this is the one exception to feng shui's normal "no footboard" rule). Finally, leave enough room around the bed for energy to flow freely, and for each partner to get up with ease. From: EWM Realty International and Luxury Portfolio International® Opt for Curves, Not Corners If you're in the market for a new bedside table or other bedroom furniture, choose pieces with soft lines and curvilinear forms. "Square corners have too much pointed energy and can create a 'sharp' environment," explains Jayme. The "poison arrows" formed by right angles are thought to direct negative energy directly at your sleeping form, which can cause a feeling of uneasiness, experts say.

If a new nightstand isn't in the cards, you can soften its corners by draping a piece of flowing fabric over the top or placing a healthy plant on top, leaves cascading over the corners. Barrett says to limit what's on your nightstand to a lamp, a couple of inspirational books, a picture you love and a plant or fresh flowers, to create a "Zen" nightstand. Clear the Clutter From a feng shui perspective, clutter symbolizes unfinished business and impedes forward progress in life. So keep furnishings on the spare side and clutter as contained as possible to enable chi to flow freely around the room. Plants placed in corners are said to prevent energy from stagnating there. And don't use the space under your bed to store boxes of out-of-season clothes — doing so will block energy and lead to stagnation in life, feng shui experts warn. What's more, "clutter under the bed has its own energy, which can disturb sleep — especially if it's work-related clutter," claims Jayme. The feng shui consultant was once hired by an insomniac dentist, whom she discovered stored her patients' X-rays under her bed.

As soon as the X-rays were moved out, sleep returned, Barrett says. Also consider what memories and associations the objects in your bedroom hold for you, and then get rid of anything (even the mattress) that you associate with a negative time in your life, a past health problem, or a former relationship. "That includes the bedside tables you bought with your ex, and even the heirloom furniture that generations of your family have hated," says Terah Kathryn Collins, author of "The Western Guide to Feng Shui Room by Room" and founder of the Western School of Feng Shui in Solana Beach, Calif. From: Kristina Wolf Organize Your Closet "Less is more" also applies to the closet. According to experts, clutter behind closed doors can be just as depleting as clutter that's in the open. "If you feel irritated, confused and overwhelmed when you open the closet door, organizing your closet will help give you a sense of control over your life," says Terah. Ruthlessly weed out clothes that are unflattering, out-of-style or no longer worn, then sort by color and season. Install organizers to hold shoes, belts, scarves and other accessories, and move everything else choking your closet to another spot.

Better yet, give it away! Shut Out the World The bedroom should be a place of rest, contemplation and intimacy — not work, exercise or blaring music. Exercise gear, a phone, a television or computer or a desk piled high with bills and paperwork give off and take up a lot of energy, feng shui practitioners say. They also distract you from rest and romance. "The bedroom is a place where you need to turn off the stresses of the day," says Jayme. If your bedroom must do double-duty as a work or exercise space, use a lightweight folding screen or beautiful fabric hung from a ceiling-mounted curtain rod to conceal them. And while a few books on your nightstand are fine, if you have bookshelves groaning under the weight of dozens of tomes, move them elsewhere. Turn off the ringer on the phone, too. And if you're not willing to part with the TV, keep it in an armoire or cabinet so that you can shut the door while you sleep. A nice piece of fabric draped over the set when you're not using it will serve a similar purpose.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn Create a Space for Couples One is indeed the loneliest number — even when it comes to bedroom furnishings and decor. "Having only one nightstand or space on only one side of the bed to climb in and out is very symbolic of solitude, and can actually hold your single status in place," says Terah. "Single people also tend to have accessories and art that depict solitude, [like] a single flower in a vase." Instead, if you're single and don't want to be, "decorate your bedroom as if a partner is already there," Terah says. Symmetry is key, so position nightstands and lamps on both sides of the bed. Accessorize in pairs or multiples, too: Place a bunch of flowers in a vase and hang art depicting romance and unity, which feng shui gurus say creates a "couples' energy" as well as a sense of balance and abundance in the room. In the feng shui "map" of the bedroom, called the bagua, the far right corner is the "love center." Whether you're single or coupled, consider building a "shrine to love" in that spot.

Accessorize a table, dresser or shelf with a photo of you and your mate (or other art that depicts a happy couple), a pair of candles, a book of romantic poetry and a heart-shaped box. "It becomes an environmental affirmation of your relationship goals," Terah says. A thriving plant with rounded, not spiky, leaves is another nice addition. Silk plants or flowers are OK, according to feng shui practitioners, but never keep a sickly specimen or dried foliage here, since their symbolism is obvious. Another feng shui no-no: king-sized beds. Not only do they create a physical chasm between you and your mate, but they "are split down the middle by two box springs, which creates a symbolic dividing line between partners that can affect their unity," David Daniel Kennedy, a feng shui teacher and consultant in Berkeley, Calif., and author of "Feng Shui for Dummies" explains. If you're not about to trade in your beloved California King, even for the sake of your other beloved, a red sheet placed over the box springs will help unify the two separate halves.

Open Your Eyes to Beauty A common feng shui strategy is to choose art and other objects that depict things you'd like to see manifest in your life, whether success, love or inner peace. In the bedroom, practitioners suggest hanging your favorite piece of art on the wall opposite your bed. "The last thing you see before you go to sleep and the first thing you see when you open your eyes should be something that makes you feel joyful and inspired," explains Jayme. One type of art you don't want in the bedroom? Family photos. "You can have pictures of your parents and your kids all over the rest of the house, but the focus in the bedroom should be on yourself and your partner," Jayme says. If your direct view from the bed is of an adjoining bathroom or a messy closet, screen those views with curtains, folding screens or simply by closing the door. Also, put down the toilet seat at night, lest the bedroom's energy go right down the drain. Another thing not to place opposite, next to or over the bed (and definitely not on the ceiling, which is a crime against more than just feng shui) is a mirror.

In addition to bouncing too much energy around the room to allow for good rest, these reflective surfaces are thought to magnify problems and worries — and some feng shui practitioners even say that mirrors in the bedroom can invite a third party to interfere in your relationship. If you have mirrored closet doors, "Treat them like windows and hang curtains in front of them," suggests Terah. Move other mirrors out of the room, face them away from the bed or drape them with a pretty piece of fabric when you turn in for the night. From: Brian Patrick Flynn Light It Right When it comes to bedroom lighting, feng shui experts say that flexibility is key: You want lots of natural light during the day, soft light in the evening and darkness while you sleep. Aside from the positive energy it imparts, "Exposure to sunlight first thing in the morning influences serotonin levels and can affect you for the rest of the day," says David. So invest in window coverings that can easily be thrown open to greet the sun and pulled closed for privacy and a cocoon-like ambiance after nightfall. When choosing sources for artificial light, make sure to provide illumination from a variety of them, including overhead, table and wall lights.

Balance light directed downward (such as from recessed cans in the ceiling) with up-lit torchieres and sconces, "which cast a softer light and lift your energy," says Jayme. Finally, "Put all the lights in the bedroom on dimmers to that you can calm the energy of the space at night." Alley Theatre Workshop - THE CHINESE ART OF PLACEMENT THE CHINESE ART OF PLACEMENT by Stanley Rutherford ALLEY THEATRE WORKSHOP Nov 11 - 27, 2004 The Chinese Art of Placement presents Sparky Litman, an ex-poet, ex-intelligence operative who has chosen to live his life according to Feng Shui. Sparky has an obsession with Tina Turner, a problem with ants and an ongoing dilemma about how to deal with women. This one-man hit play is sure to provoke conversation, laughs and ??. Winner of the San Francicso Weekly's “Black Box” award for “Best Play,” nominated for the Bay Area Theater Critic’s Circle Award for “Best Original Script,” and selected “Best Bet,” Washington Post and “Critic’s Choice,” Chicago Reader.

It has subsequently been produced by theaters in New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, and Dallas. Bridge Productions in association with Stephen Najera present The Chinese Art of Placement through a special arrangement with Stanley Rutherford. READ THE REVIEWS:

Question: What is the Chinese art of placement called?
Answer: FENG SHUI